Light energy conversion device for photocatalyst 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies for water splitting

Abstract

Using carbon felt, polytetrafluoroethylene latex and powder catalyst to assembly a light energy conversion device, the photocatalytic activity of catalyst 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ (2%WO₃ compounding TiO₂) with oxygen vacancies was studied through the water splitting for O₂ evolution, using a high pressure mercury lamp as the light source and Fe³⁺ as the electron acceptor in two different devices: an ordinary photolysis device with catalyst powder suspending through a magnetic stirrer and a self-assembly light energy conversion device. The results show that after 12 h irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of 2.0%WO₃-TiO₂ with oxygen vacancies in the self-assembly light energy conversion device is higher than that of the ordinary photolysis device, and the amount of oxygen evolution is about 12 and 9 mmol/L respectively in these two devices. After 12 h, the rates of O₂ evolution are slow in each device and the photocatalyst almost loses the photoactivity in the ordinary photolysis device. So, compared with the ordinary photocatalytic device, the rate of oxygen evolution and the life time of the catalyst are improved in the self-assembly light energy conversion device.

Keywords

light energy conversion device / photocatalytic activity / O₂ evolution / oxygen vacancy / photo splitting water